VICTO National 46th AGA paves the way for Rice Bucket Challenge by: Jose Allan Sanchez Bartolo

    Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan --  Around  700  more  or less  Coop  Officers  and  leaders  gathered together  in  one  of the  famous  Island - the  Boracay Island.  VICTO  46th  Annual  General Assembly  composed  of  Coop  Affiliates  from  Luzon, Visayas  and   Mindanao.   This year  partner coops  from  Malaysia  and  Japan  graced  the  annual event.  The  2- day  event  was  capped  with  updates, reports,  community immerssion and  the  fellowship/solidarity  event.

This year, VICTO  adopted the  RicebucketChallenge for the Aeta  Community - Indigenous Peoples (IP's)  in  the Island.  There  are  around  50  families  living in  a  compound/lot  dedicated  to  them they  called  ti  "Ati  Komunidad"  (Aeta  Village)

50  families  received the Ricebucket ,  "kikay" kit for Children  and  and  Php 10,000 pesos worth of assorted grocery items  for the Consumers  Coop of the said Aeta Community. VICTO  National paving the  way  encourages  Coop  primaries to  replicate the same.  RicebucketChallenge  primarily intends  to  support  the elderly,  specially  abled persons and  the  Indigenious People's (IP's) Communities.

Coop  Partners  from Japan  and  Malaysia  expressed   to replicate the  same  for their  elderly, the  specially  abled persons  the  IPs  as  part of the  continuing Community  Social Responsibility (CSR) or  Coop  Social  Audit.

Beautiful and Prestine Islands in Northern Antique

Its  not  all about politics,  our  campaign  sorties,  provides  me  an  opportunity to  visit  Islands  Antique.   Caluya  Island  where   you can  have the  taste  of  "tatus" and meet  friendly  people. Traveling  by boat  you will  reach the  area  for about four (4)  hours. 

The  powdery   white  beaches  is so inviting.  You  can dip yourself for a  while  to relish  yourself from the  scourging heat.

Maniguin  Island (Maningning)    known  for its  "seaweeds" farming.   Its a  3  hour  boat  ride  from Mainland  Culasi. Its  wide range  of corral  reef  provides  an ideal  place  for seaweeds  culture.  According to the  community  members  the absence  of  fresh  water  is the reason  why for the growth of 'tambalang" in the area,

"Tambalang"  the  main source  of living   of the  People  in  Maniguin.   Dried  Tambalang are being brought to  either in Caluya  and Cebu through a  Middle Man

Sunset Watching  at  Batbatan  Island.  Spend  time to  explore  the Island..  The  Bat Cave, its  beautiful  Corals, have a taste  of  fresh  catch  fish  you can have it cooked  or   simply  "Sinugba" 

At Mararison Island Commune with  the Nature  as  the Sun   finally bid goodbye  with the promise of a new  dawn .  Have a  wonderful  Island  hopping.  Only  in Antique 

DSWD - Sustainable Livelihood Project (SLP) in Maninguin Island, Culasi, Antique

Maniguin Island, Culasi, Antique --  Fishing and Seaweeds  farming is the main  source of living the   the   people  in this  island.  Despite  the  scarcity of  water supply  especially for  drinking and   cooking needs  yet, according to the  fisherfolks  this is also the very reason  why "tambalang" really  survived  in this  island.  the  wide range  or  a hectarage  of  corrals  and  white beach front surround the  whoe\le island  and it ie  where  the  seaweeds    farming is also situated.

Mayor  Joel  Lomugdang  is fully aware  of the  plight of  the seaweed  farmers.  They have  no control  on the  pricing of  the  seaweeds  during  harvest.  Seaweed farmers  are  beholden to the  loan sharks or capitalist during planting  season  thus,  he   tried  to  worked  out  that the seaweed farmers  will be  the  recipient  of  a Sustainable  Livelihood  Project  (SLP) a  special  project  under the Department  of Social Welfare and Development. The seaweed farmers  group called Hammerhead Seaweeds Farmer's Association  with the an  initial  assistance  of  Php 2.5 Million Pesos. The  local  government  unit  of  Culasi, Antique is  also looking  for the  possibility of  having s  storage/processing  facility  in mainland Culasi  to  protect  our  farmers  in terms  of  price  control.

Presently,  dried  seaweeds are  either  being  brought to Caluya  or Cebu  City  for  processing.  Seaweeds "Tambalang"  is like  a  precious  gem  to the community. Unknown  to many  Seaweeds  has  so many  uses as  a  by products  from  beauty regimen  and  many more.

Seaweed  farmer  received  and  initial  Capital  of  Php 5,000.00  and  the  remaining  Php 5,000  is  deposited  in their  bank  account.  Sustainable Livelihood Project (SLP)   Project is not  just about  extending  Financial Assistance   but also  trying  to  encourage and empower  

 the  fisherfolks  on savings.  Mayor  Joel Lomugdang even  encourage  the  members to consider  putting  up a  Cooperative or  join  the  Existing  Cooperative  like  the  Barbaza  MPC  which  has a Branch  in Culasi, Antique.

Maniguin Island,  see  you  again.

Maniguin Island - The Hidden Paradise

Maniguin Island, Culasi, Antique --  Commonly called  as  "Maningning" one of the islands  that  comprises  the  Municipality of Culasi, Antique.  It  is  sorrounded   with  wide  range  of  corral filled  beach front that is ideal  for "seaweeds"  farming.  Yet, the   place  has no potable  water.  Inhabitants  of this place  has  to  travel  to the mainland  either in Culasi of  Libertad, Antique.

You  can reached the  area  by  boat.  Its a  3  hour  boat  ride  during  fair  weather  or expect  a   four (4) hours  ride  during  rough  seas. 

Seaweeds farming  is the main  source  of living  of the  people in Maniguin.  According to  some  community members  despite the  absence of  potable water,  God has  the purpose,  it where  Seaweeds  "tambalang"  thrive.  For now they  are selling this  harvest to  Caluya.  The  local Government  Unit of  Culasi  through  it  incoming  Mayor  Jose  Jeffrey (JoJe) Lomugdang  plans  to establish a  processing  center  in   Mainland, Culasi  for the  farmers  to save the  post harvest  cost and  must have   control of the  pricing.

Seaweeds Farming  is  not  about  survival. Gradually they are now producing  college  graduates  since  the community also becomes  eager  to send their children to school.  Maninguin  Island  for now  has  a  complete elementary school.  Seaweeds farming  liberated the people of  Maniguin from  Poverty and Ignorance